Clothes retainer apparatus



Nov. 4, 1952 1.. PETERS 2,616 133 CLOTHES RETAINER APPARATUS Filed Aug. 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 4, 1952 L.PE' I'ERS CLOTHES RETAINER APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6, 1949 INVENTOR.

Nov. 4, 1952 PETERS CLOTHES RETAINER APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 6, 1949 INVENTOR 60 f2 BY M 2TT0RNEY5. I

Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES iF -ATENT "OFFICE 2;616,133 CLOTHES RETAINER APPARATUS Leo Peters, Evanston, Ill.

Application August 6, 1949, Serial No. 108,937

lz'Claims. i

This invention relates to clothes retainer ap: paratus. The apparatus is particularly useful when employed in connection with the exterior of a service door or building panel.

There has l0ng been a need for an inexpensive and effective guard means which may be controlled by the housewife or a delivery man selectively for the safeguarding of clothes tofbe dry-cleaned or laundered in the period prior to the picking up of the clothes when the housewife is away from home and in the period when the clothes have been delivered and prior to the return of the housewife. A problem has existed in the provision of apparatus accomplishing the above purposes by the use offew and inexpensive parts and in the provision of parts which may be controlled by simple and inexpensive locking means.

I have heretofore suggested door guards which had clamping bars hinged to swing open with a movement outwardly from the door. When some of such clamping bars are completely open, they may stand at right angles to the door and extend outwardly as much as two and one-half feet. A problem is presented in that two doors are employed in many homes and buildings, and the space between such doors is usually no more than six inches. For example, screen doors are often used and in the northern part of the country, storm doors are employed. Under the circumstances, unless the delivery man and the housewife are very careful to keep the screen or storm door open while the clamping bar is extended, these doors may be pierced or dam-- aged by the extended clamping bar. This is a diflicul't operation particularly if the bundle of clothes is heavy or the areaway in which the screen doors, etc. swing, is small and narrow.

There is a further problem presented with such swinging clamping bars in that children or adults may hang or lean upon the end of the hinge or supporting structure which is easily damaged. There has long been a need for a clamping bar which with a slight movement may be swung upwardly or downwardly within the space between the two doors while at the same time providing simple locking means which may be controlled by the delivery man through the use of an authorized key, or controlled by the housewife by a simple means such as opening or closing the door.

An object of the present invention is to'overcome the above disadvantages and to satisfy the needsdescribed. A further obj'ectis to provide in aclothes retainer apparatus, a pin'b'ar hav- 2 ing at least one pin for supporting 'ciothesand a clamping bar apertured to receive the pin and pivotally mounted upon the pin bar, means associated with the door jamb being :providedfor maintaining the clamping bar in confining rela= tion when the door is closed while releasing "it when the door isopen, the locking means/con trolled by the delivery man being operable in= dependently of the position of the door. A further object is to provide a jamb for the outer end of the clamping bar formed by a grooved section of the door jamb so that the clamping bari's au= tomatically released when the door is opened and held in locked position when the door is closed. A further object is to provide a clamping bar mounted upon pins and being adapted to pivot upon the pins at either end thereof in the lock ing and unlocking movements of the clamping bar relative to the pins and door jamb. Yet another object is to provide a hasp which serves the dual purpose of a j'amb for a clamping bar and a locking means for itself. A still further object is to provide a single unit locking means which permits a clamping ,bar to be swung open with precisely the same movement and :in' the same manner whether it is automatically u'nlocked when the housewife opens the door, or when it is unlocked by a delivery 'man' with a key. Yet another object is to provide a unique locking structure for releasably securing a" bag upon a service door or' building panel through the use tion; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view, thetsec tiori beingtaken as indicated at line'3 3' of Fig. 1; Fig: 4, an enlarged; broken sectional viewer a portionof the structure showniii 'Fig'. Fig? 5, a broken perspective views'howirigth 'u- I ing'of the clamping bar when the'key-co ti oll d lockflis released by the delivery man; Fig; 6'; anew" similar to'Fig. 1,-bu-t showing a mo'difiedfdri-ii'of clothes retainer apparatus; Fig. '7; a pers'pc iv'e "view of the bar and locking parts, the various 3 parts being shown in separated relation; Fig. 8, a transverse sectional view of the modified structure shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 9, an enlarged broken sectional view showing a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8; Fig. 10, an enlarged broken sectional view showing the hinged end of the clamping bar structure illustrated in Fig. 8; Fig. 11-, a perspective view of a door equipped with a second modified form of clothes retainer appa'ratus; Fig. 1 2, a broken perspective view of the bar and associate parts, the bar and other parts being shown in separated relation; Fig. 13, a transverse sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 11; and Fig. 14, a broken transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 13, but with the door swung partially inwardly.

In the illustration given in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the door I6 is shown provided with glass window panels I I. It will be understood that the apparatus is applicable to a solid door, as well as to a paneled door. The apparatus disclosed, however, is particularly useful in connection with paneled doors in that the structure may be suspended across the panels while still providing a sturdy support for pins or'projections across the paneled portions of the door, and also permitting unimpaired light and vision through the door panels if the latter are made of transparent glass. In the illustration given, pin bar I2 is secured to the door I at opposite ends of the panel II by means of screws I3 or other suitable means. The bar I2 is provided with forwardly-extending projections or pins I4 which are in spaced relation. A central pin I4 may be used for supporting a clothes hanger or any other support for clothes. If desired, a bag I5 provided at its open top with spaced apertures may be secured upon the pins I4and clamped in closed position by the use of a clamping bar IS. A satisfactory type of bag is described in detail in my co-pending application, Serial No. 99,486, filed June 16, 1949, for Clothes Container and Guard.

The. clamping bar I6 may be of any suitable form or construction In the illustration given, the bar. I6 is provided with openings I! for receiving the pins I4 when the bars are brought into clamping relation as illustrated in Fig. 3. The clamping bar may be movably supported upon the pin bar I2 byany suitable means. I

havefound that particularly good results are obtained where the bar I6 is pivotally mounted at either end upon a fixed pivot slidably engaging a recess in the bar. As shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, the pin bar I2 is provided at its inner-end near the hinge I8 of door I!) with a pivotlstud I9. The stud I9 is provided near its outer end with a transverse opening through which is extended the U-bolt of a'key-controlled lock 2|. It will be understoodthat a combination lock or other lock which may be operated only by an authorized person may be employed. The pin. bar I2 is also provided at its end near the free end of the door with a pivot stud 22 which alsoextends through an opening in the clamping bar I6. The openings in the clamping bar- I6 for-receiving the pins I4 and the pivot studs- I9 and 22jare preferably sufliciently large to allow play by the bars so as to facilitate the unlocking and the locking of the clamping bar relative to the pinbar.

The clamping bar I6 is provided at its end adjacent the free end of the door with a locking extension, 23 adapted to engage a recess 24 in the door jamb 25. asshown more clearly in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. I

4 "Operation In the operation of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the clothes may be suspended in a bag upon the pins I4 or in any other type of clothes hanger or support and the clamping bar may then be swung to confining relation about the bag and over the pins I4, the door being swung inwardly to release the bar It for this movement. It will be understood that the bar I6 may swing upon pivot stud I9 with the lock 2| engaging the same, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The door may then be closed as illustrated in Fig. 3 and upon the locking of the door, the clamping bar I6 is maintained in locked position.

When the delivery man arrives, he will unlock the lock 2I and release the inner end of bar I6. The bar may then be swung about pivot stud 22 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 so as to release the locking projection 23 from engagement with the recess 24 of the door jamb 25. The delivery man may remove the bag containing the goods to be cleaned or, if he is delivering cleaned clothes, he will secure the bag upon the pins I4 and swing the clamping bar I6 back to clamping position with the pivot stud 22 extended through the corresponding opening in the bar I6. The lock 2I will then be replaced and locked to maintain the parts again in the jamb-confining relation illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, the clamping bar '26 is connected by a universal pivot to the 'pin bar 21. The universal pivot structure may be of any suitable type. In the illustration given, the clamping bar 26 is cut away at one end as indicated at 28 in Fig. '7 and a vertical pivot sleeve 29 is provided for raising a vertical pivot pin 30 which extends through the spaced flanges of clamping bar 26. The vertical sleeve 29 is provided with an integral pin 3| pivotally secured to the pin bar 21, thus permitting the clamping bar 26 to swing outwardly in a plane horizontal with the plane of pin bar 21 to enable the bar 26 to clear the pins 32 and then after the pins are cleared, the bar 26 may be swung upwardly or downwardly upon the pivot pin portion 3I.

The clamping bar 26 is preferably provided with spaced side flanges 33 between which is adapted to be extended a locking hasp 34. The hasp 34 is pivotally mounted at 35 upon the retainer plate 36 and is apertured at 3I to receive a fixed U-bolt 38. An ordinary key-controlled or combination lock 39 may be employed to engage the U-bolt 38, as shown in Fig. 9, to secure the hasp 34 in a locked position illustrated in Fig. 9.

In the operation of the structure shown in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, the door Ifia may be swung inwardly to release the clamping bar 26 from engagement with hasp 34 and the housewife may place a bag of clothes upon the pins 32. The door may then be swung closed and locked. The clothes are now securely held within the bag until the delivery man arrives and unlocks lock 39. The

hasp may then be swung to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 9 and the clamping bar 26 is thus released for outwardly-swinging movement, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The bag may then be removed or a new bag containing freshly cleaned clothes may be'placed upon the pins 32. The clamping bar is then swung into closed position and the hasp 34 restored to the locked posi tion shown in Fig. 9.

In the modification shown in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive, the door IIIb is provided with a pin bar 4.6. The'bar 40 is provided with the pins or projections .4l :adapted ;to be @passed through aligned openings in the top-of an open-ended bag or employed inany other mannerifor supporting clothes. A segmental clamping bar 42 is .supported upon pin bar 40 Jinzthe manner illustrated best 'ilLElgs. .11, 13and 14. "The segmental bar 42 consists of a long segment v43 which is equipped with slot 44 adapted to receive the :pins 4.! for slidableimovement. At the endof the door lillb adjacently hinged thereof, the bar 40 :is provided with ahook 45 which extends througha'slot 46 in .thesegment43 of the clamping bar 42.

The other segment of the clamping .bar 42tisxa relatively short segment 41 andit isprovided with a slot' 48 adaptedto receive the shankof aiheadedconfining bolt 49. Thus theisegm'ent 41 is :slidably secured for a limited sliding :movement :on the pin'bar 40. The segment '41 is .provid'ediwith an outwardly-turned flange 50- which is'apertured at 51 to 'receive the neck 52 of an outwardlyturned flange 53 with which the long segment 43 is provided. As shown more clearly in JFigsi 1'3 and 14, the flange '53 is extended'throug'h 'the open'ing'5l of flange 50 and'lies against :the outer face of flange 5U. The flanges 5B 'and 53 :are provided with aligned holes adapted to receive the U-bolt 54 of a lock-55. These holes .are sufficiently large toallow a pivoting'movement of the bar segment '53 relative to the bar segment 41, as shown more clearly in Fig. 14 so that the'bar 53 will clear the pins 4| and permit ready access to the bag or other clothes-supporting means carried by pins 4|.

In the operation of the structure shown in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive, the two bar segments '43 and 41 will ordinarily be locked together by the bottom of lock 55, as shown in Fig. 13. When the housewife desires to place a bag of clothes upon the pins 4|, she may swing the-door lOb inwardly as illustrated in Fig. 14. This permits the clamping bar 42 to slide toward the free end of the door clearing the hook 45 and the segment 53 to be swung outwardly so as to clear the pins 4! and the entire bar 42 may be swung downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 11 upon the pivot 49. When the bag or other means carrying the clothes is placed on pins 4|, the bar 42 may be swung upwardly and then the segment 53 may be swung inwardly to receive the pins 4|. The entire bar 42 may then be slid inwardly towards the hinged endof the door to bring the bar 42 under hook 45 as illustrated in Fig. 13. In this position, the other end of the bar 42 (segment 41) will abut the door jamb b and will prevent the bar 42 from being moved out of the latched position shown.

When the delivery man arrives, he may unlock and remove the lock 55. This releases the bar segment 43 and it may be slid toward the free end of the door to disengage it from the hook 45. The bar segment 43 may then be swung to the position shown in Fig. 14 to clear the pins and then moved downwardly or upwardly as desired upon the pivot 49. This permits the delivery man to remove the bag of clothes or place a bag containing finished clothes upon the pins 4| Locking of the structure is effected by again sliding the bar segment 43 toward the hinged end of the door and placing the lock 55 back in position as illustrated in Fig. 13.

While I have shown a bar equipped with pins for holding a bag, it will be understood that the bar may be equipped with flanges or other means for receiving and holding the mouth portion of the bag.

In all of the foregoing description with'atespect to .operatiomit will be understoodithatrthe various locking and unlocking operations tmay he ;carried out in any desired sequence. .ILprefer'to :employ a bag for the: confining .of clothes 'upontthe bars but it will b'e'understoodthat ranyothersuitable mean for retaining clothes thereon'maytberemployed.

While in .the' foregoing specificationl have *set forth. specific structures in considerable. detail'ifor the 'purpose .of illustrating embodiments of .my invention, it will be understood that such details may 'be varied widely by those skilled: in itheiiart without'departing from .therspiritzofmy invention.

.1 claim:

1. In a container supporting apparatus :of' the character set forth, a pinb'ar-securedto theouter surface of :a door mounted in :a door frame, "said dooriframe being provided ata point adjacenttthe free end of the door with :a locking recess, spaced projections carried by said pin bar, a clamping bar having openings adapted to receive said projections but adapted 'to pivot upon the endprojections thereof, said bar being provided at .one end with a large extension adapted toengage the recess of said frame,.and locking means for confining the other end of said bar upon the projection at the other end of saidiolamping bar.

2. In .a container supporting. apparatus :of .xth'e character set forth, a pin bar secured to the outer surface of .a door mounted .in a door. frame, said door frame being provided at .a point :adj'aoentthe free end of the door With-a locking :recess, spaced projectionscarried by saidzpin :bar, a clamping barhaving openingsadapted-to :receive said projections'but adapted to pivot" upon the end projection thereof, said bar being pro vided at one end with .a large extension adapted to engage the recess of said frame, andua .keycontrolled lock for confining the other end :of saidbar upon the projection atthe other :end of said clamping .bar.

Ina :clothes retainer structure of the :character set .forth, a bar adapted to be secured to the outside of a door mounted within a frame, projections carried by said door, a second bar mounted upon said first-mentioned bar for movement outwardly therefrom and laterally thereof, and means carried by said door and door frame for releasably confining said second bar in confining relation about said projections.

4. In a clothes retainer apparatus adapted to be secured upon the outside of a door mounted in a door frame, a bar carried by said door and equipped with outwardly-extending projections, a segmental bar slideably mounted upon said first-mentioned bar, said bar segments being slideable with respect to each other and provided with aligned flanges, locking means for releasably securing said flanges together, and a hook member carried by said first-mentioned bar and engageable with said second-mentioned bar when said bars are moved laterally toward the hinged end of the door.

5. In a clothes retainer apparatus adapted to be secured to a door mounted in a door frame, a projection bar secured to the door and equipped with outwardly-extending projections, a segmental bar slidably secured to said first-mentioned bar and provided with slots to receive said projections, a hook fixed to said first-mentioned bar and adapted to engage said second-mentioned bar to lock the same when said second-mentioned bar is slid towards the hinged end of the door, and a key-controlled locking means for releasably securing said bar segments together, said second-mentioned bar when engaged by said hook having its outer end abutting the door frame to prevent release of said bar as long as said door remains in closed position but permitting sliding of the second-mentioned bar to release the same from said hook when said door is opened.

6. In combination with a door mounted for swinging movement within a door frame, a bar secured to the outside of said door and equipped with spaced pins, a clamping bar provided with recesses receiving said pins and mounted for movement toward and away from said pin bar, and means pivotally mounting said clamping bar upon said first-mentioned bar, whereby at least one end of said clamping bar engages said door frame and is confined-thereby against separation from said first-mentioned bar, said clamping bar being swingable to a position away from said first-mentioned bar when said door is open.

7. In combination with a door mounted for swinging movement in a door frame, a pin bar secured to the outside of the door and provided with an outwardly-extending pin, a clamping bar pivotally mounted upon said pin bar and provided with a recess receiving said pin, means on said door frame confining said clamping bar against movement away from said pin bar when the door is in closed position, said clamping bar being released from said lastmentioned means when the door is open to permit said clamping bar to be swung away from said pin bar, and lock-controlled means permitting separation of said clamping bar from said pin bar independently of the position of said door.

8. In combination with a door mounted for swinging movement in a door frame, a pin bar secured to the outside of said door and carrying at least one pin, and a clamping bar pivotally secured upon said pin bar and provided with a recess receiving said pin, said door frame and the end of said clamping bar being interlocked to prevent separation of the clamping bar from the pin bar when the door is in closed position, said clamping bar being released for pivotal movement when said door is opened.

9. The structure of claim 8, in which the door frame is equipped with a movable abutment engageable with the end of the clamp frame.

10. The structure of claim 8, in which the frame is equipped with a hinged member swingable into a position for confining the end of the clamping bar against said pin bar, and keycontrolled lock means for securing said abutment in said confining position.

11. In combination with a door mounted for swinging movement in a door frame, a pin bar secured on the door frame and equipped with a plurality of pins extending outwardly therefrom, a clamping bar movably mounted for movement toward and away from said pin bar and provided with apertures receiving said pins, and means carried by. said door frame and engageable with one end of said clamping bar for securing said clamping bar in locked position against said pin bar, said clamping bar being released for movement away from said pin bar when said door is opened to move said clamping bar away from said securing means.

12. The structure of claim 11, in which the clamping bar is formed in two parts connected together by key-controlled locking means.

LEO PETERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are or" record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 712,449 Young Oct. 28, 1902 839,298 Kitterman Dec. 25, 1906 1,432,589 Brazeau Oct. 17, 1922 1,581,776 Altschul Apr. 20, 1926 1,637,131 Rigby July 26, 1927 2,039,620 Bear May 5, 1936 

